Dr. Gene-Pair (alias) was born and raised in New York City. He received his bachelor degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies and Biology. Shortly after, he married and emigrated to Israel where he pursued his graduate studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ... more →

How Chedva Evolved

Over the last four years numerous couples were coming to my office, sharing their most intimate sorrows and overwhelming frustrations and revealing issues plaguing their marriages. It became my mission to start bringing useful tools to the couples on a grassroots level. I recognized that a great deal of marital difficulties can be tackled, and at times even avoided, with a small amount of education.

I began developing interactive workshops, like a couples’ practicum, in which tools and skills can be acquired in an exceptionally open and safe environment. They are geared toward enhancing strong marriages and are sensitively designed with private exercises built to encourage closeness.

I developed two workshops to start off my marriage enrichment program. The first workshop was about how and when to honor the process of active listening. The second workshop focused on how to acquire empathic understanding. The series then expanded to also include topics such as conflict resolution; individual, couple and family goals; financial issues; marriage roles and intimacy.

As things progressed I furthered my advanced training and started meeting more professionals who are also dedicated to working with couples. I came to realize that there exists a large pool of highly skilled counselors striving to achieve the same thing I was most interested in: promoting emotionally happy marriages and peaceful homes. I couldn’t help but think that since we’re all trying to achieve the same goals concerning marriage and relationships, there is power in numbers, and we should unite to form a strong and focused organization together.

With the divorce rate escalating at an alarming rate, along with the overwhelming degree of relationship angst and the high numbers of couples seeking help, I was compelled to expand Chedva to include a staff of noted experts who are all accessible at one site – all together at one address. Married couples can comfortably enter an online forum where professionals are being revealed in a safe and translucent manner. As valued consumers, each couple is now able to hand-select the right expert, get the best advice and enrich their relationships at their own convenience while in the privacy of their own homes.

About Shimshon Meir Frankel

Rabbi Shimshon Meir Frankel is a clinical psychologist and founder and president of the Chedva Institute for Relationship Enrichment. He was trained at the Michigan School of Professional Psychology and has been working privately for nearly twenty years. His rabbinic studies -- along with extensive coursework in communication, child development, and group dynamics -- help Rabbi Frankel guide others seeking to actualize their potentials and form healthy relationships. Rabbi Frankel founded the Chedva Institute for Relationship Enrichment to provide worldwide access to experts specializing in the various challenges faced by those in relationships. He lives with his wife and children in Northern Israel.